PSL 2016 was an overall success altogether. The Pakistani nation has a deep hunger for cricket especially homeland cricket as noticed at PSL 2016 – 1st edition, despite being played at UAE (2nd home for Pakistanis!)
In every era of Cricket Pakistan has given the world some fabulous world-class players. Names like Zaheer Abbas, Miandad, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram are a few highlights from a very long list. However unfortunately due to a couple of reason Pakistanis weren’t able to witness their long love game of cricket in their own homeland.
Like all other leagues throughout the world as IPL, SPL, BPL etc in 2016 Pakistan hosted its first ever league Pakistan Super League (PSL). Due to its huge success in not only Pakistan but wherever Pakistanis resides the expectations are much higher in PSL 2017. Its purpose is to pilot cricket back to Pakistan meanwhile preparing the new talent as well.
PSL is a twenty – twenty format game means each side plays only 20 over’s. (I know you know thatJ)
Like last year in PSL second editions the number of franchises is the same i.e. five:
- Karachi Kings ( Captain: Shoaib Malik)
- Lahore Qalandars ( Captain: Brendum Mcculum)
- Quetta Gladiators ( Captain: Sarfaraz Ahmed)
- Peshawar Zalmi ( Captain: Shahid Afridi)
- Islamabad United ( Captain: Misbah ul Haq)
These franchises actually represent the five cities of Pakistan as their first name suggest.
The event shall take place from 4th Feb – 27th Feb 2017 with unchanged location i.e. UAE.
Now let’s see which player stands where and from which team he might play in this second edition.
Players are selected from a total of 11 different cricket playing countries. Pakistani players shall moiety a large percentage of players as compare to the rest. Each franchise will have 16 players to pick their playing 11. Total 414 players are participating in PSL 2017. Players are categorized into five following categories:
- Platinum ( players starting price $70,000)
- Diamond ( players starting price $100,000 )
- Gold ( players starting price $50,000)
- Silver ( players starting price $25,000)
- Emerging ( players starting price $5,000 – $10,000)
The franchise which ended up last in 2016 has given the right to choose first 20 players. Then the team which stood 2nd last and so on. Islamabad United the Defending Champions concluded the player selection process.
What’s New?
There is a possibility that 6th franchise might be visible to viewer later on. Also, the Chairman of PCB has added that the Final shall be played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan.
Now if we talk in terms of new players than there is a great expectation that these cricketers the cricket lover’s will see in action:
- Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
- George Bailey (Australia)
- Aaron Finch (Australia)
- James Faulkner (Australia
- Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)
- Eoin Morgan (England)
- Jos Buttler (England)
- Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)
- Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
- Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
- Kieron Pollard (West Indies)
- Marlon Samuels (West Indies)
- Carlos Brathwaite (West Indies)
Here is the list of the team along with their owner and prices.
| TEAM | CITY/PROVINCE | OWNER | PRICE | CAPTAIN | HEAD COACH |
| Islamabad United | Islamabad, Capital Territory | Leonine Global Sports (Ali Naqvi & Amna Naqvi) | US$15 Million (Ten Year Agreement) | Misbah-ul-Haq | Dean Jones |
| Karachi Kings | Karachi, Sindh | ARY Media Group (Salman Iqbal, CEO) | US$26 Million (Ten Year Agreement) | Kumar Sangakkara | Mickey Arthur |
| Lahore Qalandars | Lahore, Punjab | Qatar Lubricants Company Limited (Fawad Rana, MD) | US$25 Million (Ten Year Agreement) | Brendon McCullum
| Paddy Upton |
| Peshawar Zalmi | Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Haier Pakistan (Javed Afridi, CEO) | US$16 Million (Ten Year Agreement) | Darren Sammy | Mohammad Akram |
| Quetta Gladiators | Quetta, Balochistan | Omar Associates (Nadeem Omar, Director) | US$11 Million (Ten Year Agreement) | Sarfraz Ahmed | Moin Khan |
Current standing of PSL teams:
| Team | Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tie&Win | Tie&Lost | NR | Win % |
| Islamabad United | 2016–present | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63.66% |
| Karachi Kings | 2016–present | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22.22% |
| Lahore Qalandars | 2016–present | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.00% |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 2016–present | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60.00% |
| Quetta Gladiators | 2016–present | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70.00% |
PSL 2017 broadcast rights:
| SL No. | Channels | Country | Years |
| 1. | Ten Sports, Geo Super | Pakistan | 2016 to Present |
| 2. | Ten Sports | Sri Lanka | 2016 to Present |
| 3. | OSN | United Arab Emirates | 2016 to Present |
| 4. | Gazi TV | Bangladesh | 2016 to Present |
| 5. | Flow TV | West Indies | 2016 to Present |
| 6. | Prime TV | Australia | 2016 to Present |
| 7. | Sky sports NZ | New Zealand | |
| 8. | Willow TV | USA | |
| 9. | ESPN TV | USA (selective matches) | |
| 10. | Star Sports India TV | Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh | |
| 11. | PTV Sports | Pakistan ,Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar |
Habib Bank Limited (HBL) is the main and primary supporter of PSL or HBL PSL 2017. Also, they are under contract of US $6 Million for the upcoming years as well.
In 2016 Karachi Kings was the most favorite among all because Karachi is like Mini-Pakistan. Every province person you can easily find in Karachi. But despite that Islamabad United fought and ended up winning the PSL 2016.
With the induction of new International famous quality players, every match shall be a treat to watch. Every moment shall be competitive, unpredictable, joyful and fruitful for Pakistan as don’t forget that PSL is also an event which will help those emerging players who got a chance to participate in it.
Some youngsters might be playing with their favorite cricketers so they can learn a lot from these world performance players especially how to play under pressure situations. Apart from that, it will yet be a blast cricket show to play if you are a player and also if you are a spectator. So plan and head to UAE to witness it Live otherwise make adjustments to watch it from the part of the world you are in and for Pakistan Nation, it’s a total Boom Boom Show!
